Tractor umbrella



June 28,1949. w. DANIEL TRACTOR UMBRELLA 2 SheetsrSheet 1 Filed Feb. 26, 1945 June 28, 1949. w. DANIEL- TRACTOR UMBRELLA 2 She ets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 26, 1945 Patented June 28, 1949 TRACTOR UMBRELLA Walter Daniel, Troy, Ohio, assignor to The Troy Sunshade Company, Troy, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application February 26, 1945, Serial No. 579,770

8 Claims.

' This invention relates to an umbrella of strong and sturdy construction adapted for use on tractors, at the seashore and other places, particularly where the umbrella may be subject to rough treatment. As an example of such a field of use, in the wheatlands of the country much of the work is done by tractors whose drivers need protection from the intense heat of the summer sun. Various means have been considered for mounting umbrellas on tractors to shade drivers but heretofore the umbrellas have not been satisfactorily adapted to the circumstances of their service. In addition to the continual vibration and general rough usage, a lightly built umbrella of ordinary construction may be torn apart by the high winds that are encountered.

It is an object of this invention to construct an umbrella which is relatively simple, inexpensive in construction, easily operated, and at the same time capable of withstanding severe conditions of use. Other objects of the invention are to mount the ribs or braces of an umbrella on the standard by a strong and simple connection, and to mount the cover of an umbrella on the ribs and standard in such a way that the material of the cover is protected against the forces which tend to weaken and to tear it.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is an elevational view partly in section of the upper end of an umbrella constructed in accordance with the present invention, the standard being broken away in several places in order to show the ribs and braces partly closed;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the assembled standard partly in section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, the cover being removed and the cap being broken away at its center to expose the inner mounting members at the top of the standard;

Fig. 3 is a plan View with the cap removed and partly in section on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of the mounting of the plug, the notcher and the notcher ring on the upper end of the standard;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional detail of the runner assembly with the braces omitted; and

Fig. 7 is a cross section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings the numeral I indicates an umbrella standard composed preferably of steel tubing which may advantageously be cut off square at its upper end II. A mounting pin I2 for the latch spring 60 passes through the tube and is held therein by means, such as welding, or riveting, which permits the runner to pass over its ends. The upper end of the standard is substantially closed by a plug I3 which is of slightly enlarged diameter at its base I4, and which telescopes Within and is welded, brazed or otherwise fixedly attached to the upper end I I of the standard I0. Plug I3 is cup shaped and has a screw threaded opening I5 centrally of its top. The end II of the standard surrounds the plug I3 and forms a small ledge I6 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The plug I3 has openings I1 and I8 on opposite sides to serve'as detents for other elements of the construction.

A ring shaped notcher 30 is composed of an annulus 3| of such diameter that it may be seated upon the ledge I6 of the standard I0. This annulus has a pair of upstanding lugs or ears 32 which may be bent into the openings I'I, I8, as shown in Fig. 5 to definitely locate the notcher and to prevent it from working around the standard. From the annulus 3| of the notcher depends the skirt 33 which is of angular shape and which has a series of upper holes 34 and lower holes 35 on opposite sides of the angle to receive the fastening elements of the ribs which are hereinafter to be described. Mounted above the notcher 30' is a notcher plate 40 which is dished and placed in inverted position over the notcher. The notcher plate 40 has notches 4| which fit down over the bases of the lugs 32 and prevent the notcher plate from rotating about the standard.

The cloth, or other suitable covering, 50 of the umbrella is provided with a central hole having a beaded, or serged, i. e., overcast, edge 5| just large enough to fit snugly over the plug I3. A stiffening member may be provided for the inner side of the cover about its mounting on the standard which may be of heavier canvas, impregnated cloth or the like. The umbrella material may be canvas, nylon, strong cotton or any other material which has enough strength and the other desired qualities to withstand the conditions 0 use.

Adjustably mounted upon the end of the plug I3 by a screw'Ifl-received in opening I5 is a bell- 3 shaped cap ll whose lower flared part 12 presses the material of the canvas or covering against notcher plate 40. The reverse curves of the bell and the notcher plate form between them an annular space which is roughly triangular in section, as shown in Fig. l, in which the beaded or serged edge 5| of the cover is caught. This mounting is strong and yet easily removed and does not put any strain of its own upon the umbrella fabric. Ribs 80 have hooks 8| at their inner ends which are instantly and easily applied through the holes of the notcher, but when once they are soemplaced and the ribs are attached to the braces 90, they cannot be accidentally displaced or in any other way withdrawn without disconnecting them from the braces. The fabric cover 50 is attached to the outer ends of the ribs 80 by means which need not be disclosedin oletail, any suitable means being used as desired.

The braces 90 are mountedby hooks 9| in holes, 92 of a runner 93, mounted upon a barrel or sleeve 94 having an outwardly peened lower end 95 over which is bent and to which is attached a protective cover 96 which strengthens and guards the sharp lower edge of the barrel. The runner is mounted uponthe upper end of. the runner barrel M in any suitable way. In Fig. 6 the barrel is shown. as expanded at 91 to form a stop ring against which the runner rests and the upper end of the barrel. is peened out at 98 to lock the ring. in place- However this is only a preferred meth- 0d of attachment as methods such as welding or brazing may be employed, and the barrel and runner can. be made unitary if desired. The runner 93 is a ring which. is roughly U-shaped in crosssection the outer sides of? the U being bent inwardly with asubstantial inclination as shown Fig. 6'. When the hooks 91' or the braces 90 are in place in holes 2 and. joined to the ribs the angular relationship is such that. they cannot be removed from. the runner without dismantling the top mounting.

In order to keepthe runner in its upper position. on the standard, andthe ribs and braces extended. there is provided a. spring 60 which is shown as coiled at. 61. about the pin 12 and. as having its ends 62' braced; against the inside of the standard; The spring. thus. has. two arms 62 and. 64': of which. the. latter is offset outwardly through a. slot 65' in the side of the. standard, is bent horizontally at 66 to form a. stop or rest for the. runner barrel, passes through the slot again at 61' and is bent upwardly at. B8 to rest against the inside of. the standard This: stop is simple in. construction and effieient in operation.

Therunner has free sliding movement along the standard. up to a pin or screw [08 which is fixed in. the standard and which projects into the path. of. the runner to prevent it fromv traveling upward beyondv a definite limit,. thus. preventing the umbrella from. being. turned inside out.

The construction; of the parts. and their proportions are such that. when once assembled the connections of. the ribs and. braces to the stand.- ard cannot. be unhooked'. carelessly or unintentionally. In assembling, the umbrella the. various parts are. laid. out and. the hooks on ribs 80 are passed throughthe. lower hole 35. of the notcher and then throughthe upper hole 34.. The hooks on the. ends of the. braces 90 are passed through the. holes 92. in the runner ring. 93;. the runner then put. in position. on. the: standardand the notcher is mounted on the ledge formed by the upper end of the standard anditsears arepeened intothe openings in the plugtohold it in position;

Prior to mounting the parts on the standard the ribs and braces are joined. This may occur either prior to the mounting of the hooks in the ring and the notoher, respectively, or afterwards. The notcher plate is then seated upon the notcher, the cover is emplaced and the whole is held in position by the cap. It is convenient to place the stop rivet or screw I00 after the supporting ribs and braces are in place and before the cover has been applied.

The skirt 33 of the notcher has angularly arranged sides. These angles are chosen with respect to the size of the holes and the diameter and curvature of the hooks on the ribs so that there is no possibility of accidental or intentional dislodgement except by dismantling the assemblage and removing the parts from the standard. This is similarly calculated with respect to the runner ring 93 whose outer wall is placed at such an angle with respect to the base that the hooks of the braces cannot be dislodged or removed without removing the assemblage from the standand. The gauge of the braces and ribs is such that; the material cannot be easily deformed and when once bent to its original shape will retain it. despite. great stresses- In calculating the curvature of the hook for an umbrella of particular size having standard end parts of particular dimensions it should be remembered. that the curvature must be sharp enough inthe case of' the notcher to pass in through one and out through the other of the seating. holes and in the case of the runner ring to pass through the seating holes and then through the opening. at the top. The extent of the hookis determined by the primary consideration of how longitmust be to prevent dislodgement. Similarly the extent of. the portion 31 of the noteher is determined. by the spacing of the openings 3435', their size, and the size of the hook. The element 3| will not be-so large in extent that the hook will be heldv a useless distance away from the standard, nor so small that a. hook of the proper size when emplaced inthe holes 35-34 will prevent-the notcher from being; mounted on the: standard.

Inone successful construction; which isnot a limitation but an illustration of good practice, a

runner ring was'used' having alargestdiameter at 2 approximately, a height of /2 an interior diameter of 1%", a 15 inclination tothe outer wall, of an'inch spacing from the top of the outer wall to the center ofthe hole forthe brace, and a brace of Number 6 iron wire turned: on a T 5" radius. to an. angle of 45- and in reverse on a g g radius through-180,the end. of thewire being continued at that angle sufficiently toprevent the possibility of dislodgement. The hole in. the runner ring was suificient to receive the so formed hook but not-so great to allow it unnecessary play-..

The notcher inthe: same umbrella was made from a blank having av diameter of 3% of 14 gauge. sheet steel,- the center being punched out to 13%" diameter. leaving ears. for the purpose described. The rim of the blank was then bent at an angle of 60 on a; circle-having a radiusroii from the center, bending taking place about a at" radius. /2" further from said circle the second bending-occurs at tothe angle Of the first, the skirt being continued inthis direction for approximately The holesfor the hooks were spaced at-about. 1%. from the' bend inthe middle oi the skiruthe diameter of the: holes being about The rib to seat this construction-- was made at Number 8 ironwire bent at 45 on a f g" radius for about 3% of an inch and then reverse bent on a A;" radius and continued in that line for about The foregoing details of construction are only illustrative and these dimensions would be varied if standard, standard ring, notcher and ribs were of other dimensions. It should be understood however that the general principles of the invention as set forth herein should be followed with some care in order to prevent dislodgement and failure of parts and in order to secure reliably the desired results and objects of this invention. From the particular dimensions which have been given here it will be seen that the drawings are not to scale but are illustrative and diagrammatic.

This umbrella is made largely of metal par-ts which are very strong and which will withstand the most rugged use. The assemblage of cover, ribs and braces and their attachment to the standard and to each other is simple and extremely effective, producing an umbrella capable of withstanding the most rigorous conditions of use without failure.

In opening large umbrellas of this kind it is customary to place the upper end of the standard on the ground and press downward upon the runner. This subjects the fabric of the cover to hard use and in the ordinary top connection leads to early disintegration. In the construction of my invention however, this is not so. The metal cap ll takes the weight and protects the fabric against damage from the ground. .Strains which the fabric undergoes for any cause are not applied to a particular spot at Which a fastening is found on the standard but are absorbed by the whole fabric where it is caught between cap and the notcher plate. There is therefore substantially no tearing strain at any one point where the fabric is connected to the standard, no matter how severe the use. The notcher plate P O- tects the fabric from con-tact with the pivoted ends of the ribs and the heavy under layer prevent-s the fabric from being worn off against the edge of the notcher :plate. The runner, being mounted upon a barrel, having a hand grip makes it impossible for the hands of the manipulator to be pinched when the top is raised or let down.

,The sliding connection between the ends of the braces and the standard is positive, simple and a substantial improvement over prior structures. Further even severe or continuous jolting while raised, or the forces developed by strong wind, will not damage nor objectionably strain the construction which is thus made highly suitable for the more severe fields of use such as those referred to above.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An umbrella comprising a hollow standard, a plug mounted within the upper end of said standard and leaving said upper end exposed to form a ledge, a ring shaped notcher mounted upon said standard and supported by said ledge, said notcher and said plug including means cooperating :to hold the notcher in fixed relation thereto, a dished notcher plate mounted above the notcher and cooperating with said holding means to prevent displacement thereof, a cover I having a central 'hole through which the standard projects, and a removable cap to clamp the cover against the notcher plate.

2. An umbrella comprising a standard, a notcher plate, means for removably mounting the plate comprising a cap mounted on the standard for the application of pressure to said cover and said plate.

' 3. An umbrella comprising a hollow standard, a plug mounted in the end of said standard and provided with a screw threaded centra1 opening, means mounted at the end of the standard and about said plug to hold the ends of the ribs of the umbrella and to support an umbrella cover out of contact with said ribs, and means to hold the parts assembled comprising a cap, and a screw seated in said cap and receivable in said screw threaded opening of said plug.

4. An umbrella comprising a standard, a hollow plug in an end thereof having an opening in its side above the standard, and a notcher ring seated about the plug and on the end of the standard having an ear engaging said opening to prevent relative rotation thereof.

5. An umbrella comprising a standard, a plurality of ribs, means to mount said ribs pivotally on the standard toward one end thereof, a flexible cover for the umbrella having a central hole and a beaded edge thereabout, a notcher plate cooperating with said standard for retaining said beaded edge, means for mounting said notcher plate on the standard preventing relative rotation thereof, said notcher plate covering the connection between said ribs and said standard, a cap, and means to secure the cap in position above said notcher plate and for urging said cap axially toward said standard to grip the cover between the cap and the notcher plate.

6. An umbrella comprising a hollow metal standard, a hollow plug in an end thereof having openings in the side above the standard, a notcher ring seated about the plug and on the end of the standard and having ears engaged with the said openings, a notcher plate mounted on and covering said notcher, a cap having a belled bottom overlying the notcher plate, means for attaching said cap in position over said plug, ribs having hooked ends mounted in the notcher, and a covering having a beaded inner edge caught between said cap and said notcher plate.

7. An umbrella comprising a hollow metal standard, a hollow plug in an end thereof having an opening in the side above the standard, a notcher ring seated about the plug and on the end of the standard and having a part engaging with said opening preventing relative rota tion between said plug and said notcher ring, a notcher plate mounted on and covering the notcher having a downwardly curved surface, a cap having an upwardly curved bottom overlying the notcher plate and engageable with said downwardly curved surface thereof, means for securing said cap in position over said notcher plate, ribs having hooked ends mounted in the notcher, and a covering having a beaded inner edge caught between said surfaces of said notcher plate.

8. An umbrella comprising a hollow metal standard, a hollow plug in an end thereof having an opening in its side above the standard, a notcher seated about the plug on the end of the standard having an ear extending into the said REFERENCES CITED The following referen ces are of r'cbrd the file Of this patent:

" STATES PATENTS- Name Date Felts J Nov. 10'; ms:- Fi'schell Jan. 12, 1886 Glenn May 10, 1am

Seymour July 8', 1902 Ford d Nov. 10; 1903' Vincent June 29', 1926 Chism h July 13', 1926 Rathbun Dec; 7', 1937 

